Manali, April 29
A helicopter belonging to a private skiing company crashed at Alani nullah bridge near
Preeni, 4 km from here, this morning, killing the pilot and three other passengers.
The ill-fated VT-HIM helicopter was carrying the passengers on a joy ride when it crashed around 8.30 a.m. The joy rides are part of a new service of the company started only three days ago in the Manali region for tourists.
The dead were identified as John Murphy (35) of Irish origin and belonging to Japan, Xoche Castano (26) of Colombia, Madhavi Gautam of Ambassador Resorts, Manali, who was working there as a receptionist, and the pilot Capt
K.P. Tomar (34), a resident of Panchkula.
According to Roddy Mackenzie, director, Himalayan Helicopter Services, the helicopter was on a routine flight and was returning to its base at Preeni when the mishap occurred. The helicopter’s rotors got entangled in an oak tree and losing height, it smashed into another three nearby. The wreckage was strewn all around the Alani nullah as the copter disintegrated.
Mr Mackenzie said that the helicopter service was run by the Himalayan Helicopter Services, owned by Heli Bernina of Australia, with its Indian head offices in Delhi and a sub-office at Manali. This was the first time that the company introduced the service in Manali region. The service constituted a 10-minute ride and charged Rs 1000 per person.
He further added that the service was operating under a non-schedule operation licence renewable every year and issued by the
DGCA. He revealed that the company did not need to seek permission for operating within a 5-km radius in the area and was also not required to intimate the ATC unless it flew beyond the stipulated limit.
Meanwhile, the district
administration initiated the relief and rescue operations at the crash site. The ADM Kulu, Mr H.R. Chauhan, Mr R.K. Gautam, SDM, DSP Kulu, Mr Prem Chand, SHO Manali, Mr Roop Singh, along with a medical team joined the rescue operations. An ITBP rescue team from Babeli also reached the spot to help retrieve the bodies. The bodies of the victims were sent for post-mortem to the Zonal Hospital at Kulu.
Mr Mukesh Agnihotri, Cheif Parliamentary Secretary, also visited the site and supervised the relief and rescue operations.
According to Mr Prem Chand, DSP Kulu, a case of negligence under Sections 336 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered against the organisation. Mr H.R. Chauhan, ADM, Kulu, said the SDM Manali would investigate the reasons behind the crash. An official team of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, Delhi, is also scheduled to arrive here to further investigate the crash.
According to a PTI report, it is for the third time in the last one year that a helicopter belonging to the skiing company has been involved in an accident.
One helicopter had to forceland near Aud in Mandi district last month, while another chopper had suffered total damage while forcelanding near Bhrigu lake last year. However, there were no casualties in the two incidents.
SHIMLA: Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, have condoled the death of those killed in the Manali helicopter accident.
In his condolence message, Dr Bhan expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed to the almighty to give peace to the departed souls.
Mr Virbhadra Singh expressed grief over the accident and directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the affected families.
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, Tourism Minister, also expressed his sorrow over the air crash.
